Recognize the pattern
How it starts
Support messages, buyer chats, or fake friends' requests.
The promise
Send the digits to prove you are a real person.
What happens next
The code's real service may be unrelated to the chat; sharing it authorizes another person's action.
Signs to watch for
- Someone asks you to forward a code
- The code's purpose contradicts the story
- A verification arrives without your request
Start with what you can do now
If this happened to you
Stop sharing and check active sessions
Remove unknown devices and change passwords
Notify the platform and affected contacts
What to save
Keep the original records. Use copies to organize the details.
- Verification text
- Code-request messages
- Unknown-device records
- Account-change notices
Before you send money
- Read the code message's actual purpose
- Never share login or payment codes
- Enter codes only in official flows you started
These guides explain common patterns. The facts of your situation and your payment provider’s rules determine which steps are available.